Suspenders.



N0. 668,26l. Patented Feb. l9, I901.

H. G. MACWILLIAM.

S US P E ND E 88.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1899.

2 Shaets-$haet I.

(No Model.)

nus nonms PETERS (.u, FHOTO-LITHQY, WASHINGTON, u. c

HUGH G. MACWILLIAM, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 668,261, dated February 19, 1901. Application filed August 23, 1899- Serial No. 728,188. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH G. MAOWILLIAM, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspenders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in suspenders of the class wherein the shoulderstraps are connected with the rear' of the trousers by a cord or cords the different parts or loops of which are connected and held together by an inner central connecting device; and the object of my invention is to provide a connecting device which will allow some freedom of movement or change of relative position in the plane of the device between its adjacent points of connection with the cord or cords and also preferably between its opposite points of connection therewith, so that the action of the cord in conforming to the different motions of the wearer shall be assisted by the yielding or flexible character of the connecting device, and, if desired, part or all of the connections of the cord may be fixed instead of sliding? To this end my invention consists in the improved construction hereinafter specifically described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of a pair of suspenders embodying my in vention. Fig. 2 is a View, on a reduced scale, of the outer cord and central connecting device, illustrating their Working when the shoulder-straps are subjected to unequal strains. Fig. 3 shows a modified arrangement of the parts. Fig. 4 illustrates a modifled construction in which fixed connections between sides of central device and cord are used instead of sliding, and Fig. 5 illustrates another modification in which central device has fixed connection with cord at top and bottom.

. In the drawings, A represents the ordinary shoulder-straps, which may be of any suitable material and form of construction, provided at their front ends with suitable cords or straps B, adapted to be buttoned to.the trousers, and at their rear ends with suitable guides O to receive the endless or outer cord or strap D, which slides or runs loosely therein; This cord is formed at its lower portion with loops E or other suitable means of attachment to the trousers and forms the connection between the shoulder-straps and the rear of the trousers.

Arranged to stand centrally upon the back of the wearer is a connecting device F, consisting, preferably, as shown in Fig. l, of a circular or elliptical shaped elastic cord G, of any suitable length or size, provided with loops or guides H, through which freely slides or runs the endless cord D. Except as to its running connection with said cord the connecting device F is independent of and unconnected with any part of the suspenders. While I prefer to use four guide-loops and to mount them upon the central cord G at equal distances apart, as shown in Fig. 1, the particular number of loops and their position with respect to each other and to the central cord are not essential, nor is my invention limited to any particular form or shape of guide or loop.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown modified constructions in which two of the guide-loops are dispensed with and fixed connections between cord G and outer cord substituted. In Fig. t the cord G is secured at sides to outer cord by clasps I, and in Fig. 5 the inner cord G is similarly secured at top and bottom to outer cord. Since the inner cord G constitutes a flexible connection between all points of engagement or connection with outer cord D, it will permit the outer cord to adjust itself to the movements of the wearer, even though some of said points of connection. are

fixed, and when the inner cord G is also elastic it is possible to have all the points of connection of the outer cord fixed, and Where the outer cord has fixed connections at the sides of the connecting device, as shown in Fig. 4, either the side portions of the outer cord between such points of fixed connection and the rear button-loops E or the bottom portion of the outer cord connecting the rear buttonloops E may be dispensed with and omitted without departing from the principle of my invention.

The central cord G is in all forms made, preferably, elastic to allow it to conform most readily to all movements of the wearer and give freest play to the endless cord D; but it clamped side by side or in any other suitable manner.

The essential feature of my invention is a' central device so constructed and arranged that it constitutes a flexible or yielding connect-ion, or both, between all its adjacent and preferably, also, its opposite points of engagement with the outer cord or cords, so that the device may more readily conform to the position assumed by said cord, as best shown in Fig. 2, which illustrates the action of the outer cord and central device when subjected to a strain upon one of the shoulder-straps.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. A pair of suspenders comprising shoulder-straps and meansfor connecting the same with the rear portion of the trousers, consisting of an endless cord having running engagement with the shoulder straps, and adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers, and a central device connected at sides and at top and bottom with the endless cord and constituting a'flexible connection between the adjacent points of connection with the endless cord.

2. A pair of suspenders comprising shoulder-straps, an endless co rd suitably connected with the rear ends of the shoulder-straps and.

adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers, and a central cord or cords connected at diiferent points with said endless cord, and constituting a flexible connection between the adjacent points of engagementtherewith.

3. A'pair of suspenders comprising shoulder-straps, and means for connecting the same with the rear portion of thetrousers, consisting of three or more guides, all flexibly connected together, and a cord having running engagement with said guides; said cord also having suitable connection with the shoulderstraps, and means for detachable connection with the trousers.

4:. A pair of suspenders comprising shoulder-straps and means for connecting the same with the rear portion of the trousers, consisting of an endless cord having suitable connec tion with the shoulder-straps, and adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers, and a central connecting device engaging at sides and at top and bottom with the endless cord, and constituting a yielding connection between the adjacent points of such engagement.

5. A pair of suspenders comprising the shoulder-straps and means for connecting the same with the rear portion of the trousers, consisting of an endless cordhaving running engagement with said shoulder-straps and adapted to be fastened to the trousers and a central cord or cords connected at dilferent points with said endless cord, and constituting a flexible connection between adjacent points of connection with endless cord.

6. A pair of suspenders comprising the shoulder-straps and means for connecting the same with the rear portion of the trousers, consisting of an endless cord having running engagement with said shoulder -straps, and

adapted to be fastened to the trousers, and a.

central cord or cords having connection at sides and at top and bottom with said endless cord thereby constituting a flexible connection between all adjacent points of connection with endless cord.

7. In a pair of suspenders, in combination with the shoulder-straps,an independent connecting device, consisting of a flexible circular or elliptical cord and guides carried thereby, and an endless cord or strap having sliding engagement with all said guides and-with the rear ends of the shoulder-straps and adapted to be detachably secured to the rear portion of the'trousers', said connecting device having no fixed connection with any part of 'saidsuspenders.

8. In apair of suspenders, in combination with the shoulder-straps,an independent connecting device consisting of aflexible circular cord andfour guide-loops mounted thereon at substantially equal distances apart, and an endless cord or strap'having sl'idingengagement with said guide-loops and with the rear ends of theshoulder-straps and'adapted to be detachably secured to the rear portion of the trousers, said connecting devicebeing independent of fixed connection with any other partof said suspenders.

9. 'In a pair of suspenders,-in combination with the shoulder-straps, an independent central connecting device consisting of a series of guides or loops flexibly connected together, and an endless cord or strap adapted to be detachablyconnected with the rear portion of the trousers and'having runningengagement with said guides and with the shoulder- -straps, said central connecting device being independent of fixed connection with any part of the suspenders.

*10. In a pair of suspenders, in combination with the shoulder-straps, a yielding central connecting-device, consisting of three or more tral connecting device consistingof a circular or elliptical shaped elastic cord and guideloops mounted-thereon, and an endless cord IOC cord having running engagement with the rear ends of shoulder-straps, and an inner central cord or cords connected at top and sides with the outer cord, and constituting a flexible connection between the adjacent points of such connection, and means for detachably connecting the central cord with the rear portion of the trousers.

13. In a pair of suspenders, the combination, with the shoulder-straps, of an outer cord suitably connected with the rear ends of the shoulder-straps and an inner central device yieldingly connecting the top portion of the outer cord with the side portions thereof, and means for detachably connecting said central device with the rear of the trousers.

14. In a pair of suspenders, the combination, with the shoulder-straps, of an outer cord suitably connected with the rear ends of the shoulder-straps and adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers, and a central device connected at its top and sides with the outer cord and con stitnting a yielding connection between the adjacent points of connection with the outer cord.

15. In a pair of suspenders, the combination with the shoulder-straps, of an outer cord having running engagement with the shoulder-straps and adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers, and an inner central cord or cords connected at top and sides with the outer cord and constituting a flexible connection be tween the adjacent points of such connection.

16. In a pair of suspenders, the combination, with the shoulder=straps, of three or more guides or clasps so connected that the adjacent guides or clasps are movable toward, or away from, each other, and an outer cord engaging all of said guides or clasps and the rear ends of the shoulder-straps and adapted to be detachably connected with the rear portion of the trousers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGH G. MAOWILLIAM.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR P. LOTHROP, RUTH ULRIOK. 

